Pure Gold (Glenn Miller album)

Pure Gold
Pure Gold
Compilation album by Glenn Miller
Released	1975
Recorded	1939, 1940, 1941, 1942
Genre	Dance band, Swing
Length	33:08
Label	RCA Records
Glenn Miller chronology

Last updated March 23, 2024

Pure Gold is a 1975 compilation album of 10 studio recordings by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded between 1939 and 1942 by RCA Victor.^[1] The recordings were all originally issued as 78 RPM records on the RCA Bluebird and Victor labels and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album was originally issued on LP and compact disc in reprocessed (fake) stereo sound; in 1988, RCA remastered the album in original monophonic sound for its second CD reissue.

Reception

The album was certified Gold in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 25, 1984.^[2]

Track listing

The ten tracks on the album consist of the original RCA Victor studio recordings.

Side One

1. Sunrise Serenade (Frankie Carle) – 3:25
2. A String of Pearls (Jerry Gray) – 3:18
3. In The Mood (Joe Garland) – 3:34
4. Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand (Jerry Gray) – 3:15
5. Chattanooga Choo Choo (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) – 3:27

Side Two

1. Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller) – 3:18
2. Tuxedo Junction (Erskine Hawkins, Bill Johnson, Julian Dash) – 3:24
3. Little Brown Jug (Joseph Eastburn Winner. Arranged by Billy Finegan) – 2:49
4. (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo (Gordon, Warren) – 3:18
5. American Patrol (Frank White Meacham. Arranged by Jerry Gray) – 3:20

Personnel

The personnel for the April 4, 1939 "Moonlight Serenade" recording session in New York consisted of: Bob Price, Legh Knowles, Dale McMickle, on trumpet; Glenn Miller, Al Mastren, Paul Tanner, on trombone; Wilbur Schwartz, on clarinet and alto saxophone; Hal McIntyre, on alto saxophone; Stanley Aronson, on alto and baritone saxophone; Tex Beneke, Al Klink, on tenor saxophone; Chummy MacGregor, on piano; Allen Reuss, on guitar; Rowland "Rolly" Bundock, on string bass; and Frank Carlson, on drums.^[3]

The personnel for "A String of Pearls": Saxes: Babe Russin, Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Ernie Caceres, Al Klink; Trumpets: John Best, R. D. McMickle, Billy May, Alek Fila; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Edward "Doc" Goldberg; Guitar: Bobby Hackett; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel for "Sunrise Serenade": Bob Price, Legh Knowles, Dale McMickle, on trumpet; Glenn Miller, Al Mastren, Paul Tanner, on trombone; Wilbur Schwartz, on clarinet and alto saxophone; Hal McIntyre, on alto saxophone; Stanley Aronson, on alto and baritone saxophone; Tex Beneke, Al Klink, on tenor saxophone; Chummy MacGregor, on piano; Allen Reuss, on guitar; Rowland "Rolly" Bundock, on string bass; and Moe Purtill, on drums.

The personnel for "American Patrol": Saxes: Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Ernie Caceres, Al Klink, Lloyd "Skip" Martin; Trumpets: John Best, R. D. McMickle, Billy May, Steve Lipkins; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Edward "Doc" Goldberg; Guitar: Bobby Hackett; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel for "Tuxedo Junction": Saxes: Hal McIntyre, Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Jimmy Abato, Al Klink; Trumpets: Clyde Hurley, John Best, R. D. McMickle, Legh Knowles; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Tommy Mack, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Rowland Bundock; Guitar: Richard Fisher; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel for the August 1, 1939 recording session at the RCA studio in New York for "In the Mood": Saxes: Hal McIntyre, Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Harold Tennyson, Al Klink; Trumpets: Clyde Hurley, R. D. McMickle, Legh Knowles; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Paul Tanner, Al Mastren; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Rowland Bundock; Guitar: Richard Fisher; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel for "Little Brown Jug": Saxes: Hal McIntyre, Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Stanley Aronson, Al Klink; Trumpets: Bob Price, R. D. McMickle, Legh Knowles; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Paul Tanner, Al Mastren; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Rowland Bundock; Guitar: Allen Reuss; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel for "Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand": Saxes: Hal McIntyre, Tex Beneke, Wilbur Schwartz, Ernie Caceres, Al Klink; Trumpets: John Best, R. D. McMickle, Clyde Hurley, Legh Knowles; Trombones: Glenn Miller, Jimmy Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo; Piano: Chummy MacGregor; String Bass: Herman "Trigger" Alpert; Guitar: Jack Lathrop; Drums: Moe Purtill.

The personnel on the May 7, 1941 recording of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra in Hollywood on RCA Bluebird were Paula Kelly, the Modernaires (vocals), Billy May, John Best, Ray Anthony, R.D. McMickle (trumpet), Glenn Miller, Jim Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo (trombone), Hal McIntyre, Wilbur Schwartz (clarinet, alto saxophone), Tex Beneke, Al Klink (tenor saxophone), Ernie Caceres (baritone saxophone), Chummy MacGregor (piano), Jack Lathrop (guitar), Trigger Alpert (bass), and Maurice Purtill (drums).

The personnel on "I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo": Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, the Modernaires (vocals), Billy May, John Best, Steve Lipkins, R.D. McMickle (trumpet), Glenn Miller, Jim Priddy, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Annolfo (trombone), Lloyd "Skip" Martin, Wilbur Schwartz (clarinet, alto saxophone), Tex Beneke, Al Klink (tenor saxophone), Ernie Caceres (baritone saxophone), Chummy MacGregor (piano), Bobby Hackett (guitar), Edward "Doc" Goldberg](string bass), and Maurice Purtill (drums).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Mood</span> Song popularized by Glenn Miller

"In the Mood" is a popular big band-era jazz standard recorded by American bandleader Glenn Miller. "In the Mood" is based on the composition "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone. The first recording under the name "In the Mood" was released by Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra in 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chattanooga Choo Choo</span> 1941 song by Mack Gordon

"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren. It was originally recorded as a big band/swing tune by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade. It was the first song to receive a gold record, presented by RCA Victor in 1942, for sales of 1.2 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Brown Jug (song)</span> Song

"Little Brown Jug" is a song written in 1869 by Joseph Eastburn Winner, originally published in Philadelphia with the author listed as Winner's middle name "Eastburn".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Patrol</span> American patriotic song written in 1885 by F.W. Meacham

"American Patrol" is a popular march written by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham in 1885. It incorporates both original musical themes by Meacham and melodies from American patriotic songs of the era such as "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," "Dixie," and "Yankee Doodle." Composed for piano, it was then arranged for wind band and published by Carl Fischer in 1891. Copyright was assigned to Meacham's widow, Cora, in 1912 and renewed in 1919. The 1885 and 1914 printings for piano do not include "Dixie."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuxedo Junction</span> 1939 song by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

"Tuxedo Junction" is a popular big band song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, becoming a No. 1 hit in 1940. The music was written by Erskine Hawkins, Bill Johnson, and Julian Dash and the lyrics by Buddy Feyne. The song was introduced by Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra, a college dance band previously known as the Bama State Collegians. RCA released it in 1939 and it climbed to #7 on the American pop charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo</span> 1942 popular song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

"(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" is a #1 popular song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1942. It was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and published in 1942. It was featured in the musical film Orchestra Wives and was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, featuring Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton and The Modernaires, who released it as an A side 78 in 1942, 27934-A. The B side was "At Last".

"Sunrise Serenade" is a jazz song written by Frankie Carle with lyrics by Jack Lawrence. It was first recorded in 1939 by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra with Carle on piano as Decca 2321. It soon became Carle's signature piece. Glenn Miller released a famous recording of it a few months later, arranged by Bill Finnegan, with "Moonlight Serenade" on the backside.

"A String of Pearls" is a 1941 song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on RCA Bluebird that November, becoming a #1 hit. It was composed by Jerry Gray with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. The song is a big band and jazz standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doin' the Jive</span> 1938 single by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

"Doin' the Jive" is a 1938 song composed by Glenn Miller and pianist Chummy MacGregor. The song was released as a 78 single by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem</span>

"I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem" is a 1941 jazz and pop song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The song was released as a 78 single on RCA Bluebird by Glenn Miller.

"It Must Be Jelly ('Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That)" is a 1942 jazz and pop song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The song was released as an RCA 78 single by Glenn Miller in 1944. Woody Herman also released the song as a single and as a V-Disc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania 6-5000 (song)</span> 1940 song by Jerry Gray and Carl Sigman

"Pennsylvania 6-5000" is a 1940 swing jazz and pop standard recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra as a Bluebird 78 rpm single. The music was by Jerry Gray and the lyrics by Carl Sigman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Go Again (Glenn Miller song)</span> 1944 single by Glenn Miller

"Here We Go Again" is a swing jazz instrumental recorded by Glenn Miller. The song was released as a 78 single. It was Glenn Miller's last Top 40 hit during his lifetime, peaking at #25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know Why (And So Do You)</span>

"I Know Why " is a 1941 song by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The song appeared in the 20th Century Fox movie Sun Valley Serenade. The song was also released as an RCA Bluebird 78 single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmer's Tune</span> 1941 single by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with Ray Eberle and The Modernaires

"Elmer's Tune" is a 1941 big band and jazz standard written by Elmer Albrecht, Dick Jurgens and Sammy Gallop. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra both charted with recordings of the composition.

Glenn Miller is a compilation album of phonograph records released posthumously by bandleader Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. Released in 1945 on RCA Victor as a part of the Victor Musical Smart Set series, described on the front cover as "An Album of Outstanding Arrangements on Victor Records", the set was number one for a total of 16 weeks on the newly created Billboard album charts. The album, also known under the title Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, was certified Gold in July 1968 by the RIAA.

Glenn Miller Masterpieces, Volume II is an album by bandleader Glenn Miller, released on RCA Victor in 1947, consisting of a collection of four 10" 78 RPM discs, released as RCA Victor P189 as part of the RCA Victor Musical Smart Set series. The album was number one for a total of 6 weeks on the Billboard album charts in 1947. The collection was a follow-up to the 1945 compilation album Glenn Miller.

The Glenn Miller Story is a 1954 soundtrack album released on Decca Records with songs from The Glenn Miller Story, the film biography of Glenn Miller, starring James Stewart and June Allyson. The collection had eight songs from the film recorded under the direction of Joseph Gershenson.

<i>The Glenn Miller Carnegie Hall Concert</i> 1958 live album by Glenn Miller

The Glenn Miller Carnegie Hall Concert is a live album by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. It documents a live concert recorded in Carnegie Hall in 1939. The album was released by RCA Victor in 1958.

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References

↑ Album artist 469 – Glenn Miller.
↑ RIAA: Gold and Platinum. Glenn Miller certifications. Accessed February 12, 2017.
↑ The Essential Glenn Miller. Recording Information, p. 30. BMG/RCA/Bluebird, 1995.

Works cited

Simon, George Thomas (1980). Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. New York: Da Capo paperback. ISBN 0-306-80129-9.
Simon, George Thomas (1971). Simon Says. New York: Galahad. ISBN 0-88365-001-0.
Schuller, Gunther (1991). The Swing Era:the Development of Jazz, Volume 2. 1930–1945. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507140-9.

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[1] Album artist 469 – Glenn Miller.

[2] RIAA: Gold and Platinum. Glenn Miller certifications. Accessed February 12, 2017.

[3] The Essential Glenn Miller. Recording Information, p. 30. BMG/RCA/Bluebird, 1995.

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